Implementation of laser flash photolysis for radical-induced reactions and environmental implications

Chu Chu; Yiqi Yan; Junye Ma; Shengye Jin; Richard Spinney; Dionysios D Dionysiou; Haijun Zhang; Ruiyang Xiao

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2023.120526

Implementation of laser flash photolysis for radical-induced reactions and environmental implications

Water Res. 2023 Oct 1:244:120526. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120526. Epub 2023 Aug 27.

Authors

Chu Chu¹, Yiqi Yan¹, Junye Ma¹, Shengye Jin², Richard Spinney³, Dionysios D Dionysiou⁴, Haijun Zhang⁵, Ruiyang Xiao⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
³ Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA.
⁴ Environmental Engineering and Science Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China. Electronic address: hjzhang@dicp.ac.cn.
⁶ Institute of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Control & Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China. Electronic address: xiao.53@csu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37672949
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120526

Abstract

Confronted with the imperative crisis of water quality deterioration, the pursuit of state-of-the-art decontamination technologies for a sustainable future never stops. Fitting into the framework of suitability, advanced oxidation processes have been demonstrated as powerful technologies to produce highly reactive radicals for the degradation of toxic and refractory contaminants. Therefore, investigations on their radical-induced degradation have been the subject of scientistic and engineering interests for decades. To better understand the transient nature of these radical species and rapid degradation processes, laser flash photolysis (LFP) has been considered as a viable and powerful technique due to its high temporal resolution and rapid response. Although a number of studies exploited LFP for one (or one class of) specific reaction(s), reactions of many possible contaminants with radicals are largely unknown. Therefore, there is a pressing need to critically review its implementation for kinetic quantification and mechanism elucidation. Within this context, we introduce the development process and milestones of LFP with emphasis on compositions and operation principles. We then compare the specificity and suitability of different spectral modes for monitoring radicals and their decay kinetics. Radicals with high environmental relevance, namely hydroxyl radical, sulfate radical, and reactive chlorine species, are selected, and we discuss their generation, detection, and implications within the frame of LFP. Finally, we highlight remaining challenges and future perspectives. This review aims to advance our understandings of the implementation of LFP in radical-induced transient processes, and yield new insights for extrapolating this pump-probe technique to make significant strides in environmental implications.

Keywords: Kinetics; Laser flash photolysis; Mechanism elucidation; Radicals; Reactivity.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Chlorides*
Chlorine*
Halogens
Lasers
Photolysis

Substances

Chlorides
Chlorine
Halogens